按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and well finished； though not so finely worked as ours。 The stock was well made； and extended to the end of the barrel。 Silver and gold ornament was inlaid over most of the surface； but the locks were taken from English muskets。 The Gusti assured me； however； that the Rajah had a man who made locks and also rifled barrels。 The workshop where these guns are made and the tools used were next shown us； and were very remarkable。 An open shed with a couple of small mud forges were the chief objects visible。 The bellows consisted of two bamboo cylinders； with pistons worked by hand。 They move very easily； having a loose stuffing of feathers thickly set round the piston so as to act as a valve； and produce a regular blast。 Both cylinders communicate with the same nozzle； one piston rising while the other falls。 An oblong piece of iron on the ground was the anvil； and a small vice was fixed on the projecting root of a tree outside。 These； with a few files and hammers； were literally the only tools with which an old man makes these fine guns； finishing then himself from the rough iron and wood。
I was anxious to know how they bored these long barrels； which seemed perfectly true and are said to shoot admirably； and； on asking the Gusti； received the enigmatical answer： 〃We use a basket full of stones。〃 Being utterly unable to imagine what he could mean； I asked if I could see how they did it； and one of the dozen little boys around us was sent to fetch the basket。 He soon returned with this most extraordinary boring…machine； the mode of using which the Gusti then explained to me。 It was simply a strong bamboo basket； through the bottom of which was stuck upright a pole about three feet long； kept in its place by a few sticks tied across the top with rattans。
The bottom of the pole has an iron ring； and a hole in which four…cornered borers of hardened iron can be fitted。 The barrel to be bored is buried upright in the ground； the borer is inserted into it； the top of the stick or vertical shaft is held by a cross…piece of bamboo with a hole in it； and the basket is filled with stones to get the required weight。 Two boys turn the bamboo round。 The barrels are made in pieces of about eighteen inches long； which are first bored small； and then welded together upon a straight iron rod。 The whole barrel is then worked with borers of gradually increasing size； and in three days the boring is finished。 The whole matter was explained in such a straightforward manner that I have no doubt the process described to me was that actually used； although； when examining one of the handsome； well…finished； and serviceable guns； it was very hard to realize the fact that they had been made from first to last with tools hardly sufficient for an English blacksmith to make a horseshoe。
The day after we returned from our excursion； the Rajah came to Ampanam to a feast given by Gusti Gadioca； who resides there； and soon after his arrival we went to have an audience。 We found him in a large courtyard sitting on a mat under a shady tree； and all his followers； to the number of three or four hundred； squatting on the ground in a large circle round him。 He wore a sarong or Malay petticoat and a green jacket。 He was a man about thirty… five years of age； and of a pleasing countenance； with some appearance of intellect combined with indecision。 We bowed； and took our seats on the ground near some chiefs we were acquainted with； for while the Rajah sits no one can stand or sit higher。 He just inquired who I was； and what I was doing in Lombock； and then requested to see some of my birds。 I accordingly sent for one of my boxes of bird…skins and one of insects； which he examined carefully； and seemed much surprised that they could be so well preserved。 We then had a little conversation about Europe and the Russian war； in which all natives take an interest。 Having heard much of a country…seat of the Rajah's called Gunong Sari； I took the opportunity to ask permission to visit it and shoot a few birds there which he immediately granted。 I then thanked him； and we took our leave。
An hour after； his son came to visit Mr。 Carter accompanied by about a hundred followers； who all sat on the ground while he came into the open shed where Manuel was skinning birds。 After some time he went into the house； had a bed arranged to sleep a little； then drank some wine； and after an hour or two had dinner brought him from the Gusti's house； which he ate with eight of the principal priests and princes； he pronounced a blessing over the rice and commenced eating first； after which the rest fell to。 They rolled up balls of rice in their hands； dipped them in the gravy and swallowed them rapidly； with little pieces of meat and fowl cooked in a variety of ways。 A boy fanned the young Rajah while eating。 He was a youth of about fifteen； and had already three wives。 All wore the kris； or Malay crooked dagger； on the beauty and value of which they greatly pride themselves。 A companion of the Rajah's had one with a golden handle； in which were set twenty…eight diamonds and several other jewels。 He said it had cost him ￡700。 The sheaths are of ornamental wood and ivory； often covered on one side with gold。 The blades are beautifully veined with white metal worked into the iron； and they are kept very carefully。 Every man without exception carries a kris； stuck behind into the large waist…cloth which all wear； and it is generally the most valuable piece of property he possesses。
A few days afterwards our long…talked…of excursion to Gunong Sari took place。 Our party was increased by the captain and supercargo of a Hamburg ship loading with rice for China。 We were mounted on a very miscellaneous lot of Lombock ponies； which we had some difficulty in supplying with the necessary saddles； etc。； and most of us had to patch up our girths； bridles； or stirrup…leathers as best we could。 We passed through Mataram； where we were joined by our friend Gusti Gadioca； mounted on a handsome black horse； and riding as all the natives do； without saddle or stirrups； using only a handsome saddlecloth and very ornamental bridle。
About three miles further； along pleasant byways； brought us to the place。 We entered through a rather handsome brick gateway supported by hideous Hindu deities in stone。 Within was an enclosure with two square fish…ponds and some fine trees； then another gateway through which we entered into a park。 On the right was a brick house； built somewhat in the Hindu style； and placed on a high terrace or platform； on the left a large fish… pond； supplied by a little rivulet which entered it out of the mouth of a gigantic crocodile well executed in brick and stone。 The edges of the pond were bricked； and in the centre rose a fantastic and picturesque pavilion ornamented with grotesque statues。 The pond was well stocked with fine fish； which come every morning to be fed at the sound of a wooden gong which is hung near for the purpose。 On striking it a number of fish immediately came out of the masses of weed with which the pond abounds； and followed us along the margin expecting food。 At the same time some deer came out of as adjacent wood； which； from being seldom shot at and regula